Northumberland residents asked to share stories of kindness this Mental Health Awareness Week

Now more than ever the mental health and wellbeing of residents and communities is important and the council wants to highlight the many acts of kindness happening across the county during these difficult times.

The council launched the Northumberland Communities Together initiative to ensure that residents are kept safe and well through the crisis and to help coordinate and support the voluntary and community sector.

Through the initiative many examples of kindness have been shown as communities pull together to help one another.

For Mental Health Awareness Week the council is encouraging residents to share these stories of kindness, whether giving it or receiving it.

Coun Veronica Jones, cabinet member for adult wellbeing and health said: “We know that there are many people who may be struggling with their mental health during these very challenging times, and for some they may never have experienced these feelings of anxiety and stress .

“Looking after your own mental health and wellbeing is essential and never more so at the moment when life has changed so dramatically for many of us.

“By sharing some of the acts of kindness we have experienced or been part of over the last few weeks we can hopefully bring a bit of positivity to the situation.”

The council is offering some simple tips on how to look after your own mental health as well as information on where to seek help if you are struggling.

Connect with the people around you. Be active. Take notice of the world around you and what you are feeling. Keep learning new things.

There are also resources available on the council’s website offering help and advice or via the NHS Every Mind Matters campaign.

A free confidential helpline and online service is also available for young people aged 13-25 years. Go to https://www.themix.org.uk/ or call: 0808 808 4884

Share your acts of kindness on the Northumberland Communities Together Facebook and Twitter pages. If need help from the Northumberland Communities Together team you can contact them on (01670) 620015, 9am-6pm, 7 days a week.

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